Motor Mounts 101: The Guide to Choosing the Best Motor Mount Material

If your vehicle needs a new motor mount, your vehicle will display several symptoms and replacing it with the right one is vital to extending the life of your car or truck. The wrong mount will shorten the lifespan of your vehicle, because of excessive vibration that ultimately damages the motor and your vehicle.

There are different types of motor mounts made of various materials, and many of the best options are made of performance-maximizing polyurethane. Let’s delve deeper into each mount type to help you make the best decision for your vehicle.

Symptoms of a Failing Motor Mount

When your vehicle’s motor mount begins to go bad, you will start to hear and see some recognizable symptoms. Prior to diagnosing the problem on your own, you should take your vehicle to a professional who can confirm the diagnosis.

One of the symptoms that you might notice first is fluids on the floor of your garage. Two other symptoms include excessive noise or vibration that comes from excessive engine movement, as the mount begins to fail.

Since these engine issues can reduce the safety of your vehicle, it is important that you take care of this problem as soon as possible. If you ignore the issues for too long, you can also damage your car’s transmission and driveline modules.

Motor Mount Styles

As you start looking for the best motor mount, it is important that they meet or exceed the standards set by your vehicle’s manufacturer. The mount should be as close as possible to the original equipment, so it fits in the cavity and attaches securely to the engine block.

There are two styles of mounts. The non-hydraulic mount is the most reasonably priced and is often useful enough for most engines. But, the hydro mount is the most effective because it isolates engine vibrations, keeping them out of the passenger cabin.

The hydro mounts use a spring with upper and lower chambers that use hydraulic fluid to dampen the bumps and shimmies that happen while driving.

Engine Mount Types

There are four different types of motor mounts, and they all have pros and cons that can affect the way your vehicle drives.

Rigid Mounts

The rigid mount is a popular choice used with smaller motors. This type of mount attaches the motor to the frame with fasteners or bolts. The rigid mount allows for accurate alignment between the motor and the surrounding mechanisms.

But, because the mount is rigid, it is easily damaged by vibration if the vehicle is run through heavy operation.

Resilient Mounts

This type of mount features a layer of insulation made of rubber or polyurethane that creates a bumper between the mount and the motor. This bumper reduces noise and vibration, which works to extend the life of the motor.

The layer of insulation also provides subtle flexibility and movement so the motor can perform at its best without compromising its efficacy.

Hydraulic Mounts

This type of mount includes a hydraulic motor that includes gel or liquid that absorbs the impact from normal motor operation. Some include hydraulic fluid or glycol that quiets the noise that comes from the typical motor.

These are most commonly used in four-cylinder motors that tend to produce a noticeable amount of noise and vibration.

Face Mounts

With a face mount, the motor attaches to the surrounding components, but without the use of a standard mount. Face mounts are often used when a different mount is not available. It can be adapted to fit the face-mounted motor in a vehicle that usually has a motor that mounts another way. These are often used with smaller, electric motors that are durable and quiet.

Why Polyurethane is the Best Motor Mount Material

Many vehicle parts manufacturers use polyurethane because it is durable and can be used in several ways. Prior to using polyurethane, manufacturers turned to rubber. While the spongy quality of rubber provides a cushion for motors, it also eventually causes the rubber to fail by cracking or tearing. Polyurethane lasts longer than rubber and can tolerate the extreme temperatures and vibrations that occur with running motors.

You have a better feel for the road. This allows you to better react to road conditions and to recognize when there are troubles with your vehicle.

Polyurethane parts also enhance the performance of your vehicle, because the parts respond in a way that makes the passenger cabin more comfortable.

Polyurethane has the unique ability to have some give and still return to the original shape. Rubber does the same, but it wears out over time. Polyurethane does not.

Polyurethane offers flexibility, but it also has some of the same qualities as solid steel parts, that maintain their shapes, too. So, when it comes to motor mounts, polyurethane offers necessary cushioning along with the uncompromising toughness of steel.

When you want a product that has higher durometers than rubber with the firmness of steel, nothing is better than polyurethane. Mounts made of polyurethane will hold the engine in place.

It is an ideal material for customized vehicles, and there are several types that will fit those modified vehicles.

Choose Polyurethane Motor Mounts

Shopping for a new motor mount can be overwhelming, as there are a dizzying array of options. When you want a motor mount that is durable, cushioning, and tough, nothing is better for all types of vehicles – especially those with increased horsepower – than the polyurethane options.